Thanks, Johnny S (et al)

[BobT-47P15]

Always fun to make the acquaintance of another old MoPar fan, per the picture.

Mike, I've met a limited few fellows who participate on the forum....not a bad one in the bunch. Always helpful and interesting guys. Hope to meet even more in Tulsa this summer. You're starting to get the idea about your old coupe and how it works. Don't get over excited and just keep asking questions along the way. It will all work out and you'll have an enjoyable, attention getting car.

[Guest mike_D24]

Always fun to make the acquaintance of another old MoPar fan, per the picture.

Sure is. Everyone around here either goes, "that's neat looking," and then stares at me blankly when I tell them with utmost excitement that it has a flathead 6 with fluid drive. Or they go, "and how much did you pay for this," and then stop there before they say something like "bag of bolts" "pile of rust" or "out of date, non-ABS-having, inefficient, seat-beltless train wreck."

It's nice to talk shop. Even if I'm totally new to this shop, at least I'm a sponge for it, instead of rolling my eyes unless it's the latest in technology.

It's a piece of functional art. Living, working history. I need an outlet like this where people sympathize with this notion. Come on. Fluid drive? After only about one human lifetime of engineering? And is so simplistic that only minor maintenance can have it running indefinitely? Genius!

You're starting to get the idea about your old coupe and how it works.

Ahem...sedan. I hear the coupes have a slightly greater appeal, but there's just something about those suicide doors and great big back seat. I could fit like 4 mobsters back there.

Don't get over excited and just keep asking questions along the way. It will all work out and you'll have an enjoyable, attention getting car.

It's hard not to, because this is my first REAL project. I plan to ask LOTS of questions. I hope to start taking lots of pictures, too, because a lot of the time I just have no idea what a particular dohickey is called (that's where the book learnin' fails me...once it's identified, I can tell you it's purpose and function, but until then, it's just a dohickey to me).

Thanks for the advice and feedback!

Mike

[Tim Frank]

My two cents worth would be not to delay on the wiring. While the brakes are key for your safety, the wiring could easily compromise the vehicles safety.

That is not so much to put the vehicle ahead of you, but rather you can delay getting it safe for the road to ensure that it does not catch fire when it gets there.

If your wiring is anything like what I have found you will understand why I am not even putting the battery back in until i have replaced every inch of wire.

My two cents worth.

[Guest mike_D24]

My two cents worth...

Yeah, I don't think I'll be starting it again until I can figure something out, because some things are already malfunctioning and it may be as a result of my mucking around.

I can't believe my manuals still aren't in. It's driving me nuts. I just don't want to pull all the wires until I have a schematic. Plus, if the wires are stable enough through the body (or are they also through the frame) I might just use them to pull new wires into place.

Thanks for the advice.

Mike

[RobertKB]

Plus, if the wires are stable enough through the body (or are they also through the frame) I might just use them to pull new wires into place.

Mike

Mike, you won't be able to pull the wires through. Yes, they run above the headliner but are held in place by several wire supports that are bent over the wires to keep them together and to stop them from rubbing against the body and eventually wearing through. Only way to replace them is to take out the headliner. Usually the wires running up there are in good shape as they have never been exposed to the weather and you can splice them together at either end with new wire.

[Guest mike_D24]

Mike, you won't be able to pull the wires through. Yes, they run above the headliner but are held in place by several wire supports that are bent over the wires to keep them together and to stop them from rubbing against the body and eventually wearing through. Only way to replace them is to take out the headliner. Usually the wires running up there are in good shape as they have never been exposed to the weather and you can splice them together at either end with new wire.

I'll try that out. Mostly it's the wires under the hood that seem worst off.

Mike

[Normspeed]

Hey Mike, I find that working on one of these takes long periods of simply standing and gazing at the project. Sort of a Karmic thing. Even if you're just admiring the intricacies of the Walter P. Chrysler design. Sometimes gazing with a beer in hand is even better. If I complete even one small project in a day I'm good with it.

That underhood wiring is pretty easy to do yourself. I just zip-tied little tags describing where each was connected, to all the ends before removing, then I removed and unwrapped all the old stuff, stretched it out on a table, and cut new properly sized wires in the right colors. I used a shop book for the correct colors and guages of wire, the guage is important. As I completed each new wire, I transferred the tags from the old to the new for proper installation. The whole underhood and overdrive looms cost well less than $100 including all the right size and color of wire, good quality terminals, a good pair of ratchet crimpers, heat shrink, solder, etc etc. Once installed, you can cover with any number of methods from tape to split poly looms.

The pic is my new wiring ready to put in.

[Guest mike_D24]

Norm, that's a great idea.

I totally understand the slow approach method. I also really get the idea of not seeing the whole car but focusing on the one thing I intend to do. A calm, collected approach is right up my alley. I'm actually quite a mellow guy.

The problem is, if I don't get my shop manuals in soon, I may have to throttle the postman.

I want to start getting at the right project, and there are so many things I can do myself. That's why I wanted this car. I can do the repair and maintenance. I just can't do it without a road map. It's killing me. I'm not sitting and staring at one project. I'm sitting and staring at a car that I can't do anything with.

That's why I've been at least doing some rust inspection, bought a range of sand paper, bondo, and steel wool. I can at least do some body work. Especially because the weather will be nice for the next 3 days. Something to keep my mind off the fact that I have an unworkable car. Though, making it attractive may not help. Looking at a beautiful, untouchable car might drive me over the edge. I'm just hoping all my books and materials come in before that happens.

:|

Mike